Eastern Girls FASTPITCH Softball League shall follow USA Softball FASTPITCH rules. In addition to the USA Softball rules, EASTERN has adopted the following rules for safety, accommodation and efficiency purposes. Also refer to the 10U rules for specific additions or modifications applying only to that age group.
PURPOSE: to foster, to the youth involved with the sport, the ideals of good sportsmanship by providing supervised, FASTPITCH softball games. "It is the responsibility of ALL ADULTS to bear in mind, that the attainment of exceptional athletic skill or the winning of games is secondary to that of molding future citizens". The other team, coaches, players, fans, etc. ARE NOT THE ENEMY!
USA Softball rules apply unless noted below.
A. GENERAL RULES
- For the health and promotion of recreation league play, individual player and/or coach activity and team activity must be controlled and limited to encouragement, cheering, and good sportsmanship. BE SUPPORTIVE! THE UMPIRES SHALL CONTROL SPECTATOR ACTIVITY.
- Only team members, coaches, managers, and official scorekeepers for the team are permitted on the team bench and in the playing area. There is to be NO use of tobacco productson any team bench in any community.
- Decision of the umpire is final. Umpires may eject players, coaches, and managers from the game for unsportmanlike conduct, foul language, continuous arguing and/or harassment of the umpire. Coaches must conduct themselves in a civil manner at ALL times. Violation of this rule may result in game forfeiture and/or disciplinary action.
- BLOOD RULE - A player, coach, or umpire who is bleeding or who has blood on their uniform shall be prohibited from participating further in the game until appropriate treatment can be administered. If medical care or treatment is administered in a reasonable length of time, the individual will not have to leave the
game.
B. UNIFORMS
- Appropriate shoes must be worn. Rubber cleats are recommended. Metal spikes are not allowed.
- Helmet, mask with throat protector, chest protector, and shin guards must be worn by all catchers. Any players warming up a pitcher must wear a mask!/li>
- The batter, on-deck batter, bat person, and any player who might fill-in as a base coach must wear batting helmets. Chin straps and face masks are mandatory on all batting helmets, and mouth guards are highly recommended.
- No jewelry may be worn.
- FOR PITCHERS ONLY- Any covering or bandage may be worn due to injury. Covering must be flesh tone. Pitchers may have only neutral tones of nail polish, undershirt, or sweatshirt while playing the position.
C. PLAYING FIELD
- Base distances are 60 feet. A double first base must be used if available.
- Half way lines (30 feet) must be marked between 1st and 2nd, 2nd and 3rd, 3rd and Home plate.
- There must be a line run 10 feet behind the bases, this will designate the outfield playing area, and no player may cross the line until the ball is hit.
- Team coaches may be used on defense to give instructions, but they must be behind the 10-foot line. No more than 3 defensive coaches are permitted in the playing area at any one time.
- The hosting team must provide an umpire for each home game. The fee to be paid for the umpire is $20. The umpire can be a coach/parent of the participating teams.
D. EQUIPMENT
- The official softball to be used in the 8 & under division will be any approved USA Softball 11 inch softball.
E. PITCHING
- Pitching distance will be 35 feet within a circle of 16 feet diameter.
- Team coaches will be utilized as pitchers but may not make any defensive plays.
- A pitcher/coach will pitch to his/her own batter and must start within the 16 feet circle. The player-pitcher in the 8u division must start with at least one foot within the circle.
- Batters will get a maximum of 7 pitches to hit a fair ball. If not done, the batter is out.
- There are no walks in this division.
F. GAME RULES
- Regulation games in this division will be 5 innings.
- Runs are limited to 4 per inning.
- This division may have as many as 11 defensive players, 5 outfielders on the field. A team must have a minimum of 8 players available for the game, if not, players from the opposing team can lend defensive players.
- The infield fly rule does not apply.
- Every player present will play a minimum of 2 innings in the field.
- A player will be positioned beside the pitcher/coach for fielding but may not interfere with the delivery of the pitch and must be within the 16` circle.
- If a pitcher/coach is struck by a batted ball, the ball becomes an immediate dead ball and is considered no pitch, and all runners return to their base.
- This division may use a team coach as a catcher, but if this option is used, the catcher may not make any defensive outs.
- The position of the infielder may not be more than 3 feet in front of or behind the base, but not directly on the baseline.
- If a defensive player intentionally rolls or bounces the ball to a base in an attempt to make an out, the runner may be called safe at the umpire`s discretion.
- Any ball handled by the outfielder becomes a dead ball, once the ball is back in the infield (across the baseline) or when a play is made at any base.
- Runners will advance in accordance with the half way lines whenever a dead ball situation occurs.